County OK funds to fight drug use

St. Joseph County commissioners Tuesday voted to approve $308,040 for its St. Joseph County Area Narcotics Unit (SCAN).

The vote was unanimous and commissioners hope the measure will help control local drug use, but there was one glitch.

Commissioners failed to stipulate where they are getting the money to pay for it.

After the meeting ended, commission chairman Rick Shaffer realized there was an oversight and said, “We will have to make a motion on where we’re getting this money at the next meeting.”

The money is being taken from the county’s revolving delinquent tax fund to finance SCAN for the next three years.

This marks the second time since Trine University in Angola, Ind., offered to become partners with St. Joseph County in economic development for an investment of $6.9 million that the commission has reached into the fund.

After the Trine offer failed, commissioners looked for other economic investment opportunities. In January, they voted to invest $1.2 million from the delinquent tax fund over the next four years for services and activities provided in a partnership between its EDC and the Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan Partnership (SMP).

Tuesday’s vote to support the drug unit proposal came with a motion by commissioner John Dobberteen and supported by Donald Eaton. No time was taken to explain financing.

Two weeks ago, the first phase of SCAN was approved when commissioners voted to provide the cities of Three Rivers and Sturgis $105,000 over the next three years. The money will pay for two full-time drug officers.

The total package now includes $3,360 for a county detective sergeant; $50,000 for media costs; $4,680 for additional phones and $40,000 for four used cars.

Sheriff Brad Balk and undersheriff Mark Lillywhite both attended Tuesday’s meeting in support of the beefed up SCAN program.

Commissioners told the officers they expect to see quarterly reports that show what progress in the drug war is being made.